Passing the Leadership Baton

      Rev. Bruce Ray, our Executive Director since January 2003, has announced his resignation effective August 29, 2014. For the past 11 ½ years, Pastor Ray has served in a part time capacity while also serving as pastor of Kimball Avenue Church in Logan Square.  “I have thoroughly enjoyed the past 11 years, and I’m proud of the work we have accomplished with the children and families.  The children and staff have daily blessed me, and I feel so privileged to be a part of the 103-year-old legacy of LDN,” Pastor Ray said.  He will be returning to full time ministry at the church.  “I’m not leaving the neighborhood, “ he added.  “As a community pastor, I will continue to heartily support the mission of the Nursery.  I will refer families, assist with Advent and Lenten services, and pray for the success of LDN for another century.  Lutheran Day Nursery has been and still is the ‘Good News in Early Childhood Education.’”   We wish Pastor Ray all the best as he transitions back to being a full time pastor.

      The Executive Board has named Illa M. Doss, Program Director at LDN for the past 10 years, as the new Executive Director.  Thanks to her familiarity with the mission of the Nursery and her background in early childhood education and center leadership, along with her leadership in bringing NAEYC accreditation to LDN in 2007, Ms. Illa is ready and able to take LDN to the next level of high quality childcare and preschool.

Open Enrollment for the Fall

Now is the time to register your child (ages 2-5) for the quality childcare and early childhood education offered at Lutheran Day Early Childhood Center this Fall.  Our developmental preschool, combined with our new Arthur Carlson Exploration Zone (outdoor discovery area) and our new "Music Together" program will engage your child's creativity and imagination and spur their physical, social, emotional  and spiritual development.  Contact us to set up a tour.  Spaces are limited.  And pass the word along.

Support 'Music Together' Coming to LDN in Fall 2014

Zion Lutheran Church in Hinsdale is raising funds to bring 'Music Together', a national music program, to Lutheran Day Nursery this Fall!  Here's how you can help.  Bid on great items at their online auction.  All proceeds go directly to support bringing music to LDN.

Also check out this great 'Dream Big' video below featuring pictures of some of the LDN children by Roberta Wentling of Tiny Toes Music.  Roberta will bring the Music Together Program to LDN each week.

On Friday, May 23, Zion Church and Ms. Wentling did a benefit concert for the new initiative.  Thank you!

The Arthur Carlson Exploration Zone Officially Opens

Amid cheers from the gathered crowd, the ribbon to the entrance of our newly renovated outdoor playground was cut, marking the official opening of the "Arthur Carlson Exploration Zone".  LDN families, alumni, staff and friends celebrated while the children explored the new space that includes climbing walls, musical instruments, slides, tire swings and a tricycle track.

The playground was named after Arthur Carlson, a Board Member since the 1980s, who was recognized for his joyful enthusiasm and lively faith.  Mr. Carlson was born and raised in Logan Square and was an active member of Hauge Lutheran Church where he impacted generations of young people.  A carpenter by trade, he has been instrumental in renovation projects throughout our building.  Mr. Carlson was joined by Kelly Christopher Schuler, a former board member and representative of the Christopher Family Foundation (a major donor to the renovation project), and Daniel Judd, current President of the LDN Executive Board, in cutting the ribbon.

Following the ribbon cutting, everyone enjoyed a time of refreshments, toured the building and renewed acquaintances.

To complete the project with a new decorative fence, the Board is seeking an additional $10,000 in funding.  If you would like to make a donation toward the project, please send your contribution to LDN, 1802 N. Fairfield Ave.  Chicago, IL   60647

For more pictures of the event, visit www.flickr.com/lutherandaynursery.

Two Weeks Until We Cut the Ribbon

Join us on Saturday, May 17, at 10:00 am, for our ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the Arthur Carlson Exploration Zone, our newly renovated outdoor playground area.  We will be joined by representatives of the Christopher Family Foundation, Mr. Arthur Carlson, a long-standing Board member whose faith and enthusiasm has shaped the culture of Lutheran Day Nursery for decades, staff and Board members.  A reception will follow the ceremony.

Come, experience the Exploration Zone, tour the facility and meet the people who have made it possible.

Recycling in Room 3-4

In recognition of Earth Day, the children in Room 3-4 learned about recycling everything from paper and plastic bottles to electronics during the week of April 21.  Each day, they read books about taking care of God's creation and reused items in the classroom to make toys, games and art.

Mayim (age 4) drew a picture of a recycling bin next to an incinerator and wrote, "I'm going to recycle bottles and paper.  I'm going to make a paper airplane."

If we're going to protect the planet, we must teach the values and the skills to the next generation while they are young.  At Lutheran Day, we have recycle bins throughout the building to reduce the amount of trash going into landfill.

Let's Make Beautiful Music Together

On Monday, April 21, the children at Lutheran Day Nursery got a visit from Roberta Wentling of "Music Together", a music program for preschool children.  The children learned songs, played the guitar and other instruments and moved creatively.  We are hoping to develop a partnership with "Music Together" so our children will have a regular music introduction program starting this fall.

Come Celebrate With Us!

You are invited to celebrate the official opening of our newly renovated outdoor playground with a ribbon cutting and dedication on Saturday, May 17, 2014, at 1802 N. Fairfield Ave. in Chicago, starting at 10:00 am.

The new space will be officially named “The Arthur Carlson Exploration Zone” in honor of Mr. Arthur Carlson, a long-standing member of the Executive Board whose joyful Christian witness and construction skills have helped shape both the physical building and the culture of our organization.  

Members of the LDN Executive Board and representatives of the Christopher Family Foundation will join Mr. Carlson in officially opening the renovated outdoor activity space.  The Christopher Family Foundation provided a major grant to begin the transformation of the playground.  A reception will be held following the dedication.

Please join us in honoring Mr. Carlson and to express our thanks to the Christopher Family Foundation.  For more information about the event, please contact LDN at 773-486-4222.

Let the Wild Rumpus Start!

The children got to experience the new equipment in our playground today.  They climbed walls, slid down the slides, created music, shot hoops, chilled out in the new "clubhouse", and tested the new tire swings.  Their evaluation?  Everything is great!  Next week, they will enjoy using the tricycle track, the drum kit and the xylophone.

New Playground Surface

On Thursday, April 10, workers installed new asphalt on our playground, leveling what had been a dangerously uneven surface.  Later that day, the final stretching of the "grass" took place.  The children watched the entire process with great excitement.  Unfortunately, they couldn't play on the equipment until Friday afternoon.

Next phase of our project:  A new front fence to create an even more welcoming entry.

Playground Renovation Progress

New equipment has been installed on our playground. Besides traditional tire swings and slides, we have musical instruments, a tricycle track and climbing areas. New surface will be installed on April 7-8. When it is completed, we'll celebrate with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication!
 

Playground Renovation Starts Today!

The first step in our playground transformation began today, March 27. Over the next several days, new state of the art equipment will be installed. Watch for pictures of the progress. This improvement was made possible by a grant from the Christopher Family Foundation.

Christmas Cheers!

Cheers to all who made Christmas so special for the children at Lutheran Day Nursery. During weeks prior to Christmas, Pastors Kevin Baker (Grace Lutheran Church in Elmwood Park) and Erik Christianson (St. Lukes Lutheran Church in Chicago) helped the children understand the meaning of Christmas during our Advent services. Then, our children received wonderful gifts of clothing, toys, and games from the members of Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit (Lincolnshire) and Edison Park Lutheran Church (Chicago). Our families were deeply touched by the generosity of people they had never met! We were also blessed by the Christmas Mouse (Luanne Gegeanis)who visited the classrooms, read stories and distributed a gift for every child. Finally, we celebrated Dia De Los Reyes (Day of the Kings)on January 7 (We were closed on January 6 due to the extreme cold.) Some of the children dressed up like the magi and the children followed the star to visit Jesus. Thank you to all who made this Christmas season so bright!

2013 Christmas Program

The Recreation Room was filled with the sounds of joyful singing as the children performed for family and friends at our annual Christmas program. Our two-year-olds sang songs about Jesus' birth as well as the seasonal favorite, "Jingle Bells", which included a solo performance by one of the children! Ms. Ruth and Ms. Shana led the children. Then, our 3 and 4 year olds re-enacted the story of the first Christmas, led by Ms. Bennett and Ms. Jenny. The stage was filled with inn-keepers, shepherds, sheep, angels and wise men--along with Mary, Joseph, the donkey and of course, Baby Jesus. The children did a fantastic job reminding us all that Christmas is about the best gift of all--God's gift of love expressed in the birth of our savior, Jesus.

Season of Giving

The children in Room 3-4 have been busy preparing gifts for people in need. First they collected 53 canned good items for distribution through a Logan Square food pantry. Then, they created 73 special snowmen (made from athletic socks) for residents of an area Nursing Home. Ms. Bennett is the teacher in Room 3-4. She is assisted by Ms. Jenny.

Playground Renovation Grant from the Christopher Family Foundation

In this season of Thanksgiving, we have much to celebrate.  Recently, we received word from the Christopher Family Foundation that we are recipients of a $40,000 grant to renovate our playground.  We are overwhelmed with gratitude for this generous gift and for the Foundation's support of the mission of Lutheran Day Nursery and Early Childhood Center.

Our existing playground no longer meets the Illinois state safety standards for preschool children or the standards of our accrediting body, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  Our equipment is antiquated, our playground surface is hazardous and our space does not currently accommodate infants and toddlers.  Research has confirmed that physical activity is vital to the brain and cognitive development of young children.  The grant will help us provide a state-of-the-art play area for all our children that will improve their gross motor skills, engage them in dramatic play and development and promote healthy brain development.

While $40,000 seems like a lot of money, the total cost of the playground renovation exceeds the grant.  We need to raise at least $20,000 to complete the project.  If you would like to make a donation to help us reach the $60,000 goal, please make an online donation at www.lutherandaynursery.org or send your gift to Lutheran Day Nursery, 1802 N. Fairfield Ave.  Chicago, IL   60647.

Watch for updates on the renovation and our efforts to reach our financial goal.

We've Been Busy

Since the beginning of summer, Lutheran Day Nursery and Early Childhood Center has experienced an Extreme Makeover.  We repainted the front hallway and several classrooms, replaced the tile floor in Room 2B, installed a new front door and limestone step, and begun renovation to accommodate infants and toddlers.  And there is more to come! Before the end of the year, we'll install a new ornamental fence at the front of the property and complete some interior painting.  And next Spring, the front playground will get a much needed upgrade. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures of our progress.

We Love to Read

This summer the children participated in Full Steam Ahead, a summer reading program of the Chicago Public Library for children of all ages.  Each classroom read books throughout the summer and at the end the children received a pencil pouch from the Library as a reward for their efforts.  Room 2A read 42 books, Room 2B read 53 books and our 3 to 5 year olds read 66 books--in just 6 weeks.  The children did a great job AND they learned to love reading for fun! 

Labels For Education Become Cozy Coupes

Thanks to all the Labels for Education you've sent or brought, we were able to turn them into 2 new cars for our children.  The new cars were unveiled at our "Move-a-thon" on June 21.  The children love "driving" the Cozy Coupes and pretending to fill up the gas tank as they travel around the playground area.  Each year, we collect as many Labels for Education from grocery products to purchase new toys and games for the classrooms and playground. A complete list of eligible products can be found at http://www.labelsforeducation.com/Earn-Points/Participating-Products  Consider helping us by cutting UPC symbols and sending them to 1802 N. Fairfield Ave. Chicago, IL   60647

We Moved...into Summer on June 21

A thunderstorm couldn't stop the party to celebrate the arrival of summer!  We just moved indoors.  The children participated in our "move-a-thon"fundriaser by dancing, exercising, riding trikes and driving cars for more than 20 minutes.  Even parents got into motion.  After the movement, everyone enjoyed an indoor picnic.  Let the summer begin!  Pictures of the "move-a-thon"can be found at www.flicker.com/lutherandaynursery